Water heater



Feb. '23 1'926.

W: F, LAUTENSCHLAGER WATER HEATER Filed April 22, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented eb. 23, 1926.

WILLIAM F. LAUTENSCHLAGER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

WATER HEATER.

Application filed April 22, 1922.

.To all fr0/omit may concern:

Be it known that l, lViLLiAM F. Livn'iiiN- scHLAGnR, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Cincinnati, in the county ot Hamilton and State of @hio7 have invented anew and useful Improvement in Tater Heaters, of which the following` specilication is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to water hea-ters designed particularly for use in hot-water heating systems wherein it is desirable to promote a rapid and constant circulation et' water, and to utilize to the greatest possible extent the thermal effects ot' the fuel.

The general objects of the invention are to provide an etiicient heating apparatus of simple construction and low cost ot manufacture, which may he constructed at small cost, and in which standard fittings may be principally employed.

Another object of the invention is the provision ot a heater composed of structural units attachable to a common chamber surrounding the intake pipe leading to the chamber, each unit providing` concentrically Vrelated intercommunicating passages, in turn communicating with the chamber, at dillerent levels therewithin, heat being applied at the lower end of each unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a reverberatory chamber between the drum of the-heater and a hollow baiile placed thereabove for the purpose of heating the water in a branch pipe line of one of the heater outlets to a relatively high degree of temperature and ejecting the more highly heated water into the said outlet at a substantial distance from the intake end of said branch line, to accelerate the circulation in said outlet. Y

Other objects and certain advantages will appear in the description of the drawings, and in said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through the heater, the central portion ot the saine being broken away to permit the enlarged disclosure of remaining portions and heater connections.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation illustrating the disposition of the heater units about the intake pipe.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3, 3, ot Figure 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Serial No. 556,095.

r r o, a,

inafter designated the drum, having iorinedcentrally of its top an inwardly directed projection 2 ot inverted trustuin conical conliguration, defining at the top of the drum an annular portion or pocket 3, said projection being ot less hei ght than the height of the drum. Outlet pipes il, 5, lead vertically from the pocket 3 at the top ot the drum, to suitable radiators, not shown. Centrally oil' the bottom ot' the drum. and in vertical alignment with and below the projection 2 is disposed an intake or rcturn pipe 6, provided at its lowermost portion with a suitable drain cock 7.

My improved heater units or elements, generally designated at lO, are arranged concentrically about the intake pipe and are vertically disposed relatively thereto. Any number ot' such units may be used but the number and relative arrangement herein shown has been found to give the inost eilicient results. ln constructing the heater, the units, previously assembled, are secured in the bottom wall ol" the drum, all in vertical parallel relation with the intake pipe. The construction of all units or elements is siniilai', and the description will. therefore be directed to a single unit. rlhe unit comprises an outer tube 11 extei'iorly threaded at each end, one end, the lower, being closed by a threaded cap 12, having` a removable drain plug 13 in its bottom. The opposite threaded end of the tube is engageable with correspending threads of one of the series of concentrically disposed openings in the lower horizontal wall of the drum.

The upper end ot the tube 1l is provided with a tapered countcrbore 1l, forming a seat within which is driven or otherwise force-fitted the lower open end of a tubular member 15 designed to lie within the drum and to extend upwardly therein, as shown, to communicate with the pocket 3 a shortdistance below the top of the drum.

The member 15 is provided with a diametric cross-passage 1G in the i'form of a tube traversing the walls of the member 15 and having a sealing tit therein. The cross-passage lies near the lower end of the member 15 and' adjacent its point of union with the conduit or tube 11, in the bottom portion of the drum, as shown. rThe outside diameter of the tube forming the cross-passage is less than the inner diameter otl the tube 15, providing circulating passages 17, at each side, as best shown in Figure et. Connected with the cross-passage and forming with vthe cross tube a T is a vertically disposed in communication'withtlie tube 11 near the closedl endv otsaid tube 11. This construction v'provides a central tubular downepassage, and an annular up-passage between the outer surface of said tube 18 and the inner wall of the tube or pipe 11. A spacing spider 19 is provided near the lower end of the tube 18 to center the tube. A relatively thin annular column of water will thus be exposed to the reverberated heat from the fire-brick lining, hereinafter described. Y

The units may be constructed ot standard iittings and quickly and easily assembled to form heater elements, any number of which elements in turn may be connected with the drum to form a heater.

vWhile only two outlets are shown at the "i top of the drum it will be understood that any number may be provided. rllie outlet pipe 4 leads upwardly, laterally, and then vertically as shown, the elbow 20 being provided with a reduced extension 21 connected through a suitable elbow and nipples with the lower or inlet portion or" a hollow disk-like battle 22L arranged horizontally above the drum, said baffle being oic equal diameter with said drum. An outlet 23 leads centrally from the top ot baille and is connected by suitable elbows and pipes with a valve 24.-, which in turn is suitably connected through the elbow 25 with the horizontalpipe Q6, at which point a more highly heated stream of water is injected, thus increasing the circulation in the outlet pipe. The temperature inthe baille may be controlled by adjusting the valve 24 to constrict or enlarge t-he passageway. Suitable thermometers 27, 2S, are provided 'for determining the temperatures in the respective pipes.

The heater is supported by means of a plate 30, comprising halt sections clamped together about the intake pipe, said sections tigetherv providing a central annular hub 31 and ears 32 through which are engaged headed clamping screws by means of which the said sections are clamped to and about the said pipe. The plate 30 is further provided with openings 33 through which burner tubes Se are introduced, one for each unit 15, the upper end ot each burner tube being disposed directly below the closed end or" its respective unit so that the heat is directed primarily thereagainst. Suitable supporting legs 35 are socketed in the bottom of the section plate 30. A peripheral flange 86 is provided on the upper side of the plates against which is disposed a cylindrical metal casing 88 extending upwardly to a point below the baiile, and surrounding all the elements of the heater. A domeshaped cap piece 39 is iitted over the top of the casing, closes the baiiie and provides an opening at its upper end which may be connected with a suitable pipe, not shown, leading to the chimney, for disposing of the spent products ot combustion. Adjacent the inner sideV oit the casing and extending upwardly to a point immediately below the drum is a refractory lining 4f() composed of fire-brick, and the outer surface of the casing 38 is covered with sheet asbestos which extends upwardly and overlaps thedomeshaped cover. Means is thus providedl for preventing radiation and for directing t-he heat upwardly about the dome, between the dome and the baille, whereby the thermal et fects are more thoroughly utilized.

lThe action of the heater is as follows:

The heat, directed by individual burners directly against the bottom andby reverberation against the sides of each unit, causes a rapid upward circulation of the attenuated annular water column within each unit, as a result of which hiOhly heated water is delivered withinl the pocketed portion 3 at the top of the drum and thence into the main outlet pipes, a portion of the water in one ot said main outlet pipes passing into the branch outlet or line and through the baille therein, in which baffle the water is more highly heated, the water being subsequently ejected horizontally into the main outlet pipe at a substantial distance from the intake of said branch line. This operation increases the `velocity oi circulation in the said main outlet pipe. The water trom the return or intake pipe passes centrally between the units and is delivered to .the drum centrally at the lower portion thereof in pre-heated condition. The intake water being directed toward the projection 2 is prevented in large degree from passing upwardly and is deflected and drawn laterally into the cross-passages ot the heating units and thence downwardly within the tube 18 to the bottom of tube or conduit 11 and then upwardly as above described, An adjustment of the valve 24' which procures a difference in temperatures between the main and branch outlets oi approximately 50O has been found most eiiicient, although any degree of constriction or enlargement of the branch passageway above the baffle may be obtained by valve adjustment, for changing the temperature ratio.

Having described my invention, I claim: vl. A drum, having an inwardly directed centrally disposed hollow projection deiining an annular pocket at the upper portion of said drum, outlet pipes leading from said pocket, an inlet pipe leading to the bottom. of said drum centrally thereof and below said projection, a plurality of circulation units -detachably secured to and in comnunication with the interior of said drum and surroimding said intake pipe, each unit providing concentric down and uppassages communicating respectively withi the lower, and pockefted portions of said drum, a hollow baille element disposed above said drum, said baffle having an intake and an outlet pipe connected with an outlet pipe of said drum, respectively at points adjacent and Cil a substantial distance therefrom, said baffle and drum relatively disposed to form a space therebetween, means for heating said units, and means surrounding said units, drum and baille, for confining heat and directing the same against the surfaces thereof.

2. A drum, having an interior annular pocket at its upper portion and an unpocketed lower portion, outlet pipes leading from said pocket, an inlet pipe leading to said unpocketed portion of said drum centrally thereof, a plurality of circulation units detachably secured to and in communication with the interior of said drum and surrounding said intake pipe, each unit providing concentrically disposed communicating down and 11p-passages, communieating respectively with the unpoeketed and pocketed portions of said drum, a hollow baffle element disposed above said drum, said baille having intake and outlet pipes connectedwith an outlet pipe of said drum, the intake connected adjacent said drum and the outlet connected at a substantial distance therefrom, said baffle and drum relatively disposed to form a space therebetween, means for heating said units, and means surrounding said units, drum and baiiie, for confining heat and directing the same against the surfaces thereof.

3. In a device of the class described, a hollow drum having a central inwardly and downwardly direction projection defining in the upper portion thereof an annular pocket, an outlet pipe leading from the upper part of the pocket, a cold water inlet pipe attached centrally of and at the lower side of the drum beneath the projection, heater units attached to the bottom of the drum surrounding the cold water inlet pipe, each unit having up and down passages communicating` adjacent the bottom, said up passage opening within the annular pocket, and the down passage opening outside of said annular pocket, means for applying heat against the lower end faces of the units, and means forming a heat chamber surrounding the units, drum and intake pipe for conhning and directing the heat against; the surfaces thereof.

4;. In a device ofthe class described, a hollow cylindrical drinn having a central inwardly and downwardly directed substantially cylindrical hollow projection, of less height than the drum defining in the upper portion thereof an annular chamber, an outlet pipe leading from the upper side of the drum and chamber, a cold water inlet pipe dependently attached centrally of and at the lower side of the drum beneath the depending projection, adapted to discharge against the projection, a plurality of heater units dependingly attached to the bottom of the drum surrounding the cold water inlet pipe, each having up and down passages communicating at the bottom and at their upper ends with the drum respectively within the annular chamber adjacent the top thereof, and adjacent the bottom of the drum, means for applying heat against the lower end faces of the units, and means surrounding the units, intake pipe and drum for conlining the heat and directing the same against the surfaces thereof.

5. In a device of the class described, a hollow cylindrical drum having a central inwardly directed hollow projection of less height than the drum, defining in the upper portion thereof an annular chamber, outlet pipes leading from the upper side of the drum and top of the annular chamber, a cold water inlet pipe attached centrally of and at the lower side of the drum beneath the projection and adapted to discharge thereagainst, a plurality of heater units attached in circular formation to the bottoni of the drum surrounding and parallel with the cold water pipe, each unit having up and down passages communicating adjacent the bottom, said up passage opening within the annular chamber substantially central thereof adjacent the top thereof and said down passage opening adjacent the lower part of the drum, means for applying heat directly against the lower end faces of the units, and a casing surrounding the drum, units and cold water intake pipe for conlining heat and directing the same against their surfaces.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

IVIIJLIAM F. LAUTENSCHLAGER. 

